Per Mertesacker is entrusted with the job of collecting fines from Arsenal players in breach of club discipline but the German may find himself going cap in hand to manager Arsene Wenger for his place in the team.

Arsene Wenger takes charge of Arsenal for the 1,000th time in the Barclays Premier League match against Chelsea on March 22.

Here, Standard Sport takes a look back at some of the highs and lows of the Frenchman's reign.

HIGH: The unheralded former Monaco and Nagoya Grampus Eight coach is appointed Arsenal manager in September 1996. Wenger wins his first game in charge 2-0 at Blackburn, with two goals from Ian Wright as the Gunners go on to finish in third place in the Premier League and secure a place in the UEFA Cup.

On the up: Arsene Wenger guided Arsenal to a third-place finish during his first season in chargeHIGH: Under Wenger's guidance, Arsenal win the 1997/1998 Premier League title and secure the Double with victory over Newcastle in the FA Cup final.

LOW: Arsenal have to make do with runners-up spot in the 1998/1999 league race to Manchester United, who also knock them out of the FA Cup semi-finals after a replay with a wonder goal from Ryan Giggs.

Crashing out: Ryan Giggs celebrates his extra-time wonder goal which denied Wenger's Arsenal a place in the final
LOW: It is second best again for Wenger's men in 2000 after they finish behind United and although they reach the final of the UEFA Cup, Arsenal suffer an agonising penalty shoot-out defeat to Galatasaray in Copenhagen.

LOW: Wenger receives a 12-match touchline ban after being found guilty by the Football Association of "threatening behaviour and physical intimidation" to fourth official, Paul Taylor, after defeat on the opening day of the 2000/2001 season at Sunderland. The decision is later overturned by an appeal board.

LOW: More heartache for the Gunners as they are beaten to the Premier League title by United once more, and then somehow lose the 2001 FA Cup final against Liverpool to a late brace from Michael Owen despite dominating the match in Cardiff.

HIGH: The 2001/02 campaign sees Wenger's Arsenal rejuvenated as the likes of Sol Campbell, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Fredrik Ljungberg, Thierry Henry and Robert Pires drive the side on to a second Double, securing the league title with victory over United at Old Trafford having beaten Chelsea in the FA Cup final

HIGH: Arsenal are runners-up to United again in May 2003, but retain the FA Cup by beating Southampton 1-0 at the Millennium Stadium,

Invincible: Arsenal end the 38-game season with 26 wins and 12 draws
HIGH: Wenger's crowning glory as his "Invincibles" are champions having gone through the entire 2003/2004 season unbeaten.

LOW: Arsenal's 49-match unbeaten league run is finally ended with a 2-0 defeat in a feisty encounter with United at Old Trafford in October 2004. The match became known as the 'battle of the buffet' following a heated exchange with Sir Alex Ferguson in the tunnel after the match.

Dejected: Arsenal lose the Champions League final 2-1 after Barcelona scored twice in the last 14 minutes to overhaul Sol Campbell's opener
LOW: Arsenal suffer a defeat in the 2006 Champions League final by Barcelona in Paris, where goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is sent off early in the first half.

HIGH: Arsenal move to the impressive 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium for the start of the 2006/2007 season, with Wenger having overseen the club's transition from Highbury.

LOW: Arsenal reach the final of the Carling Cup against Chelsea. Despite taking the lead through Theo Walcott's first goal for the Gunners, Didier Drogba strikes twice to secure victory for the Blues in Cardiff.

LOW: Wenger's long-time ally David Dein leaves his role as Arsenal vice-chairman in April 2007, which is followed by the sale of Thierry Henry, Arsenal's club-record scorer, to Barcelona in the summer.

LOW: In February 2008, Arsenal striker Eduardo suffers an horrific injury in a tackle from Martin Taylor at Birmingham, which leads to Wenger calling for the defender to be "banned for life" in the immediate aftermath. Arsenal are eventually overtaken by Manchester United and Chelsea as they finish third.

HIGH: Wenger ends speculation about his future by penning a new three-year deal in August 2010.

Missed opportunity: Many saw the League Cup final against Birmingham as a great opportunity to end Arsenal's trophy drought; Obafemi Martins thought otherwise, scoring a late winner at Wembley
LOW: Arsenal suffer a shock defeat to Birmingham in the 2011 Carling Cup final at Wembley after a mix-up between goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Laurent Koscielny gifts Blues striker Obafemi Martins a late winner at Wembley. Arsenal see their title challenge fade and also go out of the FA Cup to United.

HIGH: Goals from Robin van Persie and Andrei Arshavin give Arsenal a famous 2-1 win over Barcelona at the Emirates Stadium in February 2011. However, Lionel Messi inspires the Spaniards to a 3-1 victory in the return leg, where Van Persie is sent off and Nicklas Bendtner misses a late chance to send Arsenal through.

LOW: Arsenal reluctantly sell club captain Cesc Fabregas back to his boyhood club Barcleona for some £30million, while Samir Nasri leaves for Manchester City in another big-money departure to leave Wenger's plans for the 2011/2012 campaign in tatters.

Lowest point: Arsenal drop to 17th after a thumping 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford
LOW: The Gunners are thrashed 8-2 at Manchester United and end August 2011 just above the relegation zone, with defeat away to Tottenham in October making it the worst start to a season in 58 years.

LOW: In February 2012, Arsenal are thrashed 4-0 by AC Milan in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie, a result Wenger labels "our worst night in Europe". Arsenal win the second leg at home 3-0, but the damage had already been done.

HIGH: After three successive draws, the Gunners beat West Brom 3-2 on the final day of the season to snatch third place in the table ahead of Spurs and so qualify for the Champions League once again, with captain Van Persie plundering 37 goals.

LOW: Van Persie, who failed to agree a new Arsenal contract, is sold to Manchester United in August 2012 for £24million.

LOW: Arsenal are beaten 2-0 at home by Swansea in December 2012 to sit 10th in the Premier League.

LOW: The Gunners are beaten by League One Bradford in the quarter-finals of the League Cup, then crash out at home to Championship side Blackburn in the 2013 FA Cup before being outclassed 3-1 at home by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

HIGH: Arsenal produce a brilliant performance to win the second leg of their last 16 clash 2-0 in the Allianz Arena, but exit the competition on away goals.

LOW: Spurs look to have taken a grip on the race for a top four finish when they beat Arsenal 2-0 at White Hart Lane - a result which then Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas declared would send the Gunners into a "negative spiral".

Regulars: Laurent Koscielny's winner at Newcastle puts Arsenal on course for a 16th consecutive Champions League appearance
HIGH: Boosted by their victory over Bayern, Arsenal go on to win eight from the final 10 Premier League games, beating Newcastle 1-0 on the last day, to overhaul Spurs once again and finish in the top four.

LOW: Arsenal lose the opening game of the new Premier League season 3-1 at home to Aston Villa.

HIGH: The club transfer record is shattered by the deadline day £42.5m signing of German playmaker Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid, as Arsenal book their place in the group stages of the Champions League and return to form to move clear at the top of the Premier League.

HIGH: After a stuttering run of league form sees them drop to third, Arsenal beat Everton to reach the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley - where they will face Wigan for the chance to meet either Sheffield United or Hull as Wenger sets his sights on a first trophy since 2005.